Flip-Flop Circuit That Suppresses Idle Clock Power Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flip-flops in mobile devices consume power due to clock signal transitions even when there is no change in data, leading to increased power consumption, especially in applications with low data switching activity.
Innovation Solution
A low-power flip-flop design that prevents charge or discharge of internal nodes during clock signal transitions when no data change occurs, utilizing a circuit configuration with signal generation circuits and inverters to maintain internal signals at fixed levels, reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional flip-flop design is used, then the flip-flop can store binary data and respond to clock signals, but power consumption increases due to charge/discharge of internal nodes during clock transitions even when data does not change
Solution Approach 1:
The flip-flop design dynamically adjusts the charging/discharging behavior of internal nodes based on data stability. When data remains unchanged, the circuit prevents unnecessary charge/discharge cycles during clock transitions, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining data storage capability. This is achieved through conditional signal path activation that adapts to the stability of input data.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of internal nodes by controlling their charge/discharge states. Specifically, it modifies the voltage transition behavior of internal nodes based on whether data has changed, preventing spurious transitions when data is stable. This parameter control reduces dynamic power consumption without affecting the fundamental data storage function.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the flip-flop prevents charge/discharge of internal nodes during clock transitions, then power consumption is reduced, but the circuit complexity increases due to additional signal generation circuits and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The additional circuits in the flip-flop design serve multiple functions: they detect data changes, control signal path activation, and manage internal node charge/discharge states. By making these control circuits multi-functional, the design reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in overall circuit complexity while achieving power reduction goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The flip-flop circuit uses its own internal signals and nodes to control the charge/discharge behavior of internal nodes. The data input signals and existing output nodes are utilized to generate control signals that prevent unnecessary charging/discharging, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms and minimizing additional circuit complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A low power flip-flop includes first to fourth signal generation circuits and an inverter. The first signal generation circuit receives the clock signal, the data input signal, and a first internal signal that is an output of the second signal generation circuit and generates a second internal signal. The inverter receives the first internal signal and generates an inverted first internal signal. The second signal generation circuit receives the first internal signal and the output signal that is an output of the third signal generation circuit, and generates the inverted output signal. The third signal generation circuit receives the clock signal and the inverted output signal and generates the output signal. The fourth signal generation circuit receives the inverted first internal signal, the second internal signal, and the clock signal and generates the first internal signal.